Teenage sensation Phoebe Litchfield claims Australian teammates have asked if she can give them a chance to bat again after a superb start to her one-day international career
Litchfield has claimed the record for the most runs by an Australian woman before being dismissed in ODIs, with the opener making unbeaten scores of 67 and 78 against Pakistan to start her career.
The runs have helped Australia secure the first two matches of the one-day series, which moves to Sydney for a third and final fixture on Saturday.
A prodigy of Australian cricket, Litchfield headlines a host of youngsters who have starred in the ODI series alongside Darcie Brown and Annabel Sutherland.
But the fact Litchfield is yet to get out and therefore acquire an average in her ODI career has left her as the butt of jokes from teammates.
Only Litchfield, Beth Mooney and Meg Lanning have had a proper bat in the series, with Ellyse Perry facing two balls and no-one else walking out to bat.
"They have been like: err, can we have a bat please?" Litchfield quipped.
"But no, the team is really supportive and they are stoked for me. To bat with Meg and Moons has been unreal.
"If you told me this a week ago, I would say you're lying. It's been a pretty cool start.
"I reckon I'll probably get out tomorrow. We'll see, but hopefully I get an average tomorrow."
Litchfield's performances have come at the end of a rollercoaster month.
The 19-year-old was last week left out of Australia's squad for the Twenty20 World Cup, with Alyssa Healy back from injury to reclaim her opening role.
Lanning has also been named to return to the top order, after sitting out Australia's last T20 series against India while on personal leave.
But Litchfield said she did not allow the call to dent her confidence ahead of the Pakistan series.
"I was expecting it with Meg and Midge (Healy) coming into the side. I'm not too fazed by it," Litchfield said.
"I know that top order is amazing and there is no way I will be playing in that before any of them.
"It would be an awesome opportunity, but I get to go out (to her hometown of) Orange and play WNCL (for NSW), so that's cool."
